Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

I purchased the 30 day passport plan for a trip to Ireland in a few days. It is very confusing regarding what is included and what I need to do with my phone prior to travel. I read through some previous questions from people that explained that sending and receiving texts are included in it even though it specifies only sending. Some of the posts also explain that the fee I am paying covers the "roaming". What do I need to do to my phone prior to arriving in Ireland? Since the fee covers roaming do I not need to turn anything off or do I need to turn off the data? I downloaded the passport app that will tell me when I am in hot spots for the Wifi but I want to make sure I do not incur any additional fees. I am aware of the data amount allotted and the $1 per minute for phone calls. I am planning to text, and email at those wifi hot spots.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

I purchased the 30 day passport plan for a trip to Ireland in a few days. It is very confusing regarding what is included and what I need to do with my phone prior to travel. I read through some previous questions from people that explained that sending and receiving texts are included in it even though it specifies only sending. Some of the posts also explain that the fee I am paying covers the "roaming". What do I need to do to my phone prior to arriving in Ireland? Since the fee covers roaming do I not need to turn anything off or do I need to turn off the data? I downloaded the passport app that will tell me when I am in hot spots for the Wifi but I want to make sure I do not incur any additional fees. I am aware of the data amount allotted and the $1 per minute for phone calls. I am planning to text, and email at those wifi hot spots.

Incoming texts would be free whether you had a passport plan or not, that is why the plan only specifies sending texts. The only thing I would recommend you do is turn data roaming off and only turn it on when you want to use cellular data. I have seen some complaints about the passport data alotment getting all used up by the passport app searching for wifi hotspots. If you turn data roaming off, that won't happen. By the way, if the only data you plan to do is email, you probably don't need to worry about finding wifi hotspots, the amount of cellular data you get on passport should cover all your email needs. Just turn data roaming on when you want to check/send email, then turn it off when you are done.

*The views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

No, you WILL be charged .50 per text and 1.30 per pic message because you will be roaming internationally. International text messages are included in plan when you are sending from the United States only.I suggest you get the package, it included unlimited messaging with the 1$/per and 120MB of data. Better to get the package and pay the 30 to be sure that you are covered.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

*The views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

I hope you didn't buy the passport plan, it's a complete waste of money. Wifi hotspots are available in Ireland whether you have the passport plan or not, having it doesn't not give you special access. And texts are hit and miss. Some texts are sent/received right away while others are delayed.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

I hope you didn't buy the passport plan, it's a complete waste of money. Wifi hotspots are available in Ireland whether you have the passport plan or not, having it doesn't not give you special access. And texts are hit and miss. Some texts are sent/received right away while others are delayed.

You are right, the passport plans aren't needed for wifi. The value of any passport plan is unlimited texting, cellular data and reduced rates on cellular calls. As for the hit or miss issue with texts you experienced, that has nothing to do with the passport plan but totally depends on the foreign cellular system you are connected to. If you had an issue with texting, it was probably due to the Irish cell carrier you were roaming on. The passport plan only covers what you are charged for texting, cellular data and cellular calls. You could still do all of those functions without a passport plan, however you would pay quite a bit more.

*The views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

You can text with wifi and not incur charges. And the wifi hotspots are one of the selling features, so that's very misleading. The data useage is horrendous in Ireland. You're lucky if you get 4g wherever you go. The more advantageous plan is to unlock your phone and goto a Super Tesco store and buy a sim and use the plan that comes with it. For $45, you'll get 15 GB of data, cheap international calls and unlimited texting. Beats the limited but expensive passport plan.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

Yes there are messaging apps that work on wifi but no, you can not send SMS or MMS messages over wifi. Those can only be sent over the cellular system. Most people have message apps that only support SMS/MMS and those messaging apps that work over wifi usually also require the recipients to have the same app.

*The views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

@sandblaster wrote:Yes there are messaging apps that work on wifi but no, you can not send SMS or MMS messages over wifi. Those can only be sent over the cellular system. Most people have message apps that only support SMS/MMS and those messaging apps that work over wifi usually also require the recipients to have the same app.

Not sure why you're arguing with me when I just went through this experience for 3 weeks in Ireland. You can download an app, send text messages and the recepient doesn't have to have the same app. As a matter of fact, if you have wifi and you're using iMessages, you can go that route. Either way, I'm glad, as an employee, that you ignored the points I made in regards to the wifi hotspots being a selling feature or the fact that unlocking the phone and using a sim card is a cheaper and much better alternative. No need to reply unless you really just want to have the last word. I just spent 3 weeks dealing with it, so unless you've been to Ireland and dealt with their "network," please keep it to yourself.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

@sandblaster wrote:Yes there are messaging apps that work on wifi but no, you can not send SMS or MMS messages over wifi. Those can only be sent over the cellular system. Most people have message apps that only support SMS/MMS and those messaging apps that work over wifi usually also require the recipients to have the same app.

Not sure why you're arguing with me when I just went through this experience for 3 weeks in Ireland. You can download an app, send text messages and the recepient doesn't have to have the same app. As a matter of fact, if you have wifi and you're using iMessages, you can go that route. Either way, I'm glad, as an employee, that you ignored the points I made in regards to the wifi hotspots being a selling feature or the fact that unlocking the phone and using a sim card is a cheaper and much better alternative. No need to reply unless you really just want to have the last word. I just spent 3 weeks dealing with it, so unless you've been to Ireland and dealt with their "network," please keep it to yourself.

I'm not arguing with you, I simply posted what I believe to be true. I've never heard of an app that allows you to send SMS/MMS messges over wifi. Please enlighten me and share the name of this app you use.

You mention iMessage, yes you can use iMessage on wifi but you can only send to other iMessage users. If you want to send to anyone who does not have iMessage, the message app will send as normal SMS over the cellular network.

As for unlocking your phone and using a local sim card being cheaper, that has not been my experience. When I travelled in Great Britain and France several years ago and in northern Europe last year, I researched getting local service versus getting an international data package (passport did not exist then) and local service would have cost me much more than the international data package. Now for the same price I paid for international data only, a passport package provides more data than what I got then plus texting. It all depends on what you plan or expect you use your phone for. It may be cheaper getting local service or it may be cheaper getting a passport plan. You also have the issue of getting a totally different number if you get local service.

My point here is every travel situation is different. You can't say your way is the best way to go for every situation. By the way, I happen to agree with you reference wifi hotspots as a selling feature of passport. The real value of any passport plan is reduced cost on international roaming, not access to wifi since ATT has a limited number of international wifi hotspots.

*The views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

@sandblaster wrote:Yes there are messaging apps that work on wifi but no, you can not send SMS or MMS messages over wifi. Those can only be sent over the cellular system. Most people have message apps that only support SMS/MMS and those messaging apps that work over wifi usually also require the recipients to have the same app.

Not sure why you're arguing with me when I just went through this experience for 3 weeks in Ireland. You can download an app, send text messages and the recepient doesn't have to have the same app. As a matter of fact, if you have wifi and you're using iMessages, you can go that route. Either way, I'm glad, as an employee, that you ignored the points I made in regards to the wifi hotspots being a selling feature or the fact that unlocking the phone and using a sim card is a cheaper and much better alternative. No need to reply unless you really just want to have the last word. I just spent 3 weeks dealing with it, so unless you've been to Ireland and dealt with their "network," please keep it to yourself.

I'm not arguing with you, I simply posted what I believe to be true. I've never heard of an app that allows you to send SMS/MMS messges over wifi. Please enlighten me and share the name of this app you use.

You mention iMessage, yes you can use iMessage on wifi but you can only send to other iMessage users. If you want to send to anyone who does not have iMessage, the message app will send as normal SMS over the cellular network.

As for unlocking your phone and using a local sim card being cheaper, that has not been my experience. When I travelled in Great Britain and France several years ago and in northern Europe last year, I researched getting local service versus getting an international data package (passport did not exist then) and local service would have cost me much more than the international data package. Now for the same price I paid for international data only, a passport package provides more data than what I got then plus texting. It all depends on what you plan or expect you use your phone for. It may be cheaper getting local service or it may be cheaper getting a passport plan. You also have the issue of getting a totally different number if you get local service.

My point here is every travel situation is different. You can't say your way is the best way to go for every situation. By the way, I happen to agree with you reference wifi hotspots as a selling feature of passport. The real value of any passport plan is reduced cost on international roaming, not access to wifi since ATT has a limited number of international wifi hotspots.

I didn't say mine was the best way, I said it was best for IRELAND. Hard to argue that a sim card purchased for $45 that offers 15gb of Data, cheap international calling and free texting is less valued over the less than gig of data and expensive international calling offered by the passport plan.

A totally different number makes no difference. You still have your contacts in your phone, so just text whoever you need and they have your new number.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

Sorry to jump in on your conversation, but my questions are also about iphone international travel. My husband and I each have an iphone. Do we each have to sign up for the $30 package to get unlimited texting and reduced charges for calls? Will we be able to make local calls or would it be best to buy a throw away phone for local calling? How soon before we leave should we sign up for the service? We're leaving a week from Tuesday to Jamaica.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

Sorry to jump in on your conversation, but my questions are also about iphone international travel. My husband and I each have an iphone. Do we each have to sign up for the $30 package to get unlimited texting and reduced charges for calls? Will we be able to make local calls or would it be best to buy a throw away phone for local calling? How soon before we leave should we sign up for the service? We're leaving a week from Tuesday to Jamaica.

Thanks.

You each have to sign up. Personally, I would get a throw away phone. I would just sign up the week before you leave if you decide to do it. Good luck if you use the Passport plan.

Re: Traveling Abroad/Passport Plan

If you both plan to text and make calls then you probably want a passport plan for each phone but it is not required. When we travel we typically only get the plan for one phone and do all of our texting and calling from that phone. Yes, you can make local calls but you will still be paying about $1/min. You can order the passport plan at any time and when you order it you can specify the date when you want it to start which is typically the day you travel. Once the plan starts, it is good for 30 days.

*The views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.